August 2023 M&E Newsletter

The Dog Days of Summer

Author

Andy Beach
August 11, 2023

Hello! First off, apologies to all those folks who have asked me where July’s newsletter was. I was out on holiday for the entire month. If you know me, I have already bored you with stories. If not, feel free to check out my Instagram, as it was a lot of fun and an amazing journey with my family.

Now then, July is also the beginning of a new fiscal year at Microsoft. New year’s are always a time of change and an opportunity to do things differently. In that vein, we are revamping the way we do the newsletter. It will continue to be a monthly posting, targeted around mid-month. I’ll be testing a few changes out, so pardon if this looks a little different month to month while I find the right fit.

I hope to see many of you at IBC next month in Amsterdam - drop me a note and let me know if you’re going and what you think we’ll all be talking about.

On to the news!

Our commitments to advance safe, secure, and trustworthy AI - Microsoft on the Issues

Today, Microsoft is announcing its support for new voluntary commitments crafted by the Biden-Harris administration to help ensure that advanced AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy. By endorsing all of the voluntary commitments presented by President Biden and independently committing to several others that support these critical goals, Microsoft is expanding its safe and...

blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2023/07/21/commitment-safe-secure-ai

The Migration: Leaving the Data Center for the Public Cloud - MediaKind

Today, companies must continuously seek innovative ways to deliver superior customer experiences as the video industry landscape evolves. One trend recently gaining significant traction is the transition from owned infrastructure to cloud-based systems. This move is a game-changer for video operators and telecommunications companies (telcos) alike. The cloud offers numerous advantages over traditional-owned infrastructure, especially… Continue reading The Migration: Leaving the Data Center for the Public Cloud

www.mediakind.com/blog/the-migration-leaving-the-data-center-for-the-public-cloud

EZDRM Digital Rights Management as a Service Now Available in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Microsoft Azure customers gain access to EZDRM’s DRMaaS and can take advantage of scalability, reliability and agility to drive video service delivery.

hs.ezdrm.com/blog/drmaas-in-microsoft-azure-marketplace

Bitmovin Launches Streams on Microsoft Azure Marketplace

Microsoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Bitmovin Streams to take advantage of the scalability, reliability and agility of Azure to drive application development and shape business strategies

bitmovin.com/press-room/bitmovin-launches-streams-microsoft-azure-marketplace

Mate Talk: "IBC Preview - Exploring the latest trends and innovations", Thu, Aug 17, 2023, 6:00 PM | Meetup

👋 Hi community! We're thrilled to announce our upcoming Mate Talk, where we'll be delving into the exciting world of media and entertainment technology at IBC 2023!

www.meetup.com/montevideo-tech-meetup/events/295192569

US might finally force cable-TV firms to advertise their actual prices

Biden angry about cable firms' hidden "Broadcast TV" and "Regional Sports" fees.

arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/06/us-might-finally-force-cable-tv-firms-to-advertise-their-actual-prices/

Disney Sees Password-Sharing Crackdown as ‘Opportunity to Help Grow Our Business,’ Bob Iger Says

Disney is coming for the streaming password-sharing freeloaders. Taking a page from Netflix’s playbook, Disney chief Bob Iger announced that the media conglomerate has put a priority on findi…

variety.com/2023/digital/news/disney-password-sharing-crackdown-bob-iger-1235692982

What ByteDance’s Financial Picture Tells Us

There is something to the phrase “Follow the money.” Looking at the finances of a company can go a long way toward clearing up certain unanswered questions. And this is especially important for private enterprises, who don’t regularly disclose such information. And so, when Jing and Juro today ...

www.theinformation.com/articles/what-bytedances-financial-picture-tells-us?rc=jtsdxo

Airplanes are the latest SVOD battleground

SVOD on airplanes is the latest battleground for new subscribers. Paramount+ offers the full-catalog, Peacock and Apple TV+ offer a selection.

nscreenmedia.com/svod-on-airplanes-battleground

WB Discovery Loses DTC Subscribers in Q2 2023 | Inside The Stream

In Q2 2023, WB Discovery lost 1.8 million DTC subscribers globally, though it recorded a slight increase in ARPU. We discuss the loss, DTC profitability, and what to expect going forward.

insidethestream.podbean.com/e/wb-discovery-loses-dtc-subscribers-in-q2-2023